Rodriguez homers to end another game

Alex Rodriguez kind of chuckled and declared the best thing about his game-winning homer Thursday was trying to hit Yankees coach Larry Bowa in the head as he rounded third.

Yes, Rodriguez is one happy player right now, and the Yankees are winning because of it.

Rodriguez hit a three-run homer that capped a comeback from a four-run deficit with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the New York Yankees an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians that completed a three-game sweep.

By homering for the third consecutive game, Rodriguez increased his major league-leading totals to 10 homers and 26 runs batted in. His latest drive came after he went hitless in his first four at-bats and committed a throwing error that allowed the Indians’ final run to score.

“It’s just fun,” Rodriguez said. “It’s going out and not trying to do too much, and help the team win.”

Rodriguez connected on a belt-high pitch from Joe Borowski (0-1) and sent the ball soaring to center. He knew immediately it was gone, flipping his bat toward the Yankees’ dugout and raising both hands in triumph.

He slapped the hands of Bowa after rounding third, then slammed his helmet to the ground.

“It’s what Alex is capable of,” Yankees Manager Joe Torre said.

Sean Henn (1-0) pitched one inning, following Chase Wright and Kei Igawa to become the third Yankees rookie in three games to get his first major league victory. That hadn’t happened since Norm Branch, Charlie Stanceu and Steve Peek did it May 20-22, 1941, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Rodriguez matched Albert Pujols (last year) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) for the second-fastest to 10 homers behind Mike Schmidt (12 games in 1976), according to Elias.

Rodriguez is the first player with two game-ending homers this early in the season since Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell had two in the first nine games in 2002.

The Yankees (8-6), two games over .500 for the first time this season, headed to Boston.

“We needed this win going to Boston,” Rodriguez said. “Every game in Boston is a war.”